The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is still one
of the most powerful lobby organizations in the country, but fortunately, it
is starting to lose its iron-clad grip on our policymakers. AIPAC lost the fight
to stop Chuck Hagel from being confirmed as Secretary of Defense; it lost the
push for the US military to attack Syria, and it is losing its effort to derail
nuclear talks with Iran. In the old days, AIPAC bragged that it could, within
24 hours, get
the signatures of 70 Senators on a napkin if it really wanted to. This year,
AIPAC got stuck at 59 cosponsors for its S.1881 sanctions bill–not enough
support to force Senator Harry Reid to bring the bill to the floor or to override
a threatened presidential veto.

Another sign of AIPAC’s waning influence is the fact that this year,
at their March 2-4 Policy Conference in Washington DC, Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu will attend but not President Obama or Vice President Joe
Biden – both of whom have spoken in past years.

But it’s certainly not time to sound the death knell. AIPAC still
has a lot of muscle and will keep trying to flex it. Here’s what we have to
look forward to coming out of AIPAC 2014:

1. AIPAC continues to gun for a military confrontation
with Iran. AIPAC has been pushing for increased sanctions during these delicate
international nuclear talks, a move that would violate the terms of the agreement,
signal to Iran that the US negotiating team cannot deliver on its commitments,
divide the US from its international negotiating partners, and embolden Iranian
hardliners. AIPAC is still pushing for this, but as a backup is trying to set
the conditions for the talks. AIPAC’s policy would lead us down a path to yet
another disastrous war in the Middle East (AIPAC was a big promoter of the war
in Iraq–and look how that one turned out!).

2. AIPAC’s call for unconditional support for the
Israeli government undermines a possible negotiated solution between the Israelis
and Palestinians. AIPAC promotes Israeli policies that are in direct opposition
to international law, including the establishment of settlements in the Occupied
West Bank and the confiscation of Palestinian land in its construction of the
26-foot high concrete “separation barrier” running through the West Bank. On
February 27 Amnesty International published a report called Trigger
Happy providing chilling detail of Israel’s use of excessive force in the
West Bank. AIPAC’s support of these illegal practices is in direct opposition
to a negotiated solution to the Israel/Palestine conflict. AIPAC has also been
pressuring Secretary of State Kerry to keep the political representatives of
Palestinians in Gaza–Hamas–completely
out of the peace talks. How can you come to a negotiated solution if 40
percent of all Palestinians are not represented?

3. AIPAC’s influence on US policy–pushing
it in the direction of unconditional support for Israel–increases anti-American
sentiment around the world, sowing the seeds of more possible terrorist attacks
against us. Even General
David Petraeus admitted that the U.S./Palestine conflict “foments anti-American
sentiment, due to a perception of U.S. favoritism for Israel.” He also said
that “Arab anger over the Palestinian question limits the strength and depth
of U.S. partnerships with governments and peoples in the [region] and weakens
the legitimacy of moderate regimes in the Arab world. Meanwhile, al-Qaeda and
other militant groups exploit that anger to mobilize support.”

4. AIPAC makes the U.S. a pariah at the UN. AIPAC
describes the UN as a body hostile to the State of Israel and has pressured
the U.S. government to oppose resolutions calling Israel to account. Since 1972,
the US has vetoed 44 UN Security Council resolutions condemning Israel’s actions
against the Palestinians. President Obama continues that practice. Under Obama,
the US vetoed UN censure of the savage Israeli assault on Gaza in January 2009
in which about 1400 Palestinians were killed; a 2011 resolution calling for
a halt to the illegal Israeli West Bank settlements, even though this was stated
U.S. policy; a 2011 resolution calling for Israel to cease obstructing the work
of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees; and another resolution
calling for an end to illegal Israeli settlement building in East Jerusalem
and the occupied Golan Heights.

5. AIPAC attacks politicians who question unconditional
support of Israel. AIPAC demands that Congress rubber stamp legislation drafted
by AIPAC staff. It keeps a record of how members of Congress vote and this record
is used by donors to make contributions to the politicians who score well. Members
of Congress who fail to support AIPAC legislation have been targeted for defeat
in re-election bids. These include Senators Adlai Stevenson III and Charles
H. Percy, and Representatives Paul Findley, Pete McCloskey, Cynthia McKinney,
and Earl F. Hilliard. AIPAC’s overwhelmingly disproportionate influence on Congress
subverts our democratic system.

6. AIPAC attempts to silence all criticism of Israel.
Journalists, think tanks, students and professors have been accused of anti-Semitism
for merely taking stands critical of Israeli government policies. These attacks
stifle the critical discussions and debates that are at the heart of democratic
policy-making. Most recently, AIPAC has been attacking supporters of the movement
that calls for the boycott, divestment, and sanctions on Israel (BDS), a movement
that has gained rapid momentum and multiple victories to put pressure on Israel
to end the occupation. In December, the American Studies Association passed
a measure supporting BDS. In direct response, AIPAC is trying to push a bill
through Congress that would cut federal funding to American academic institutions
that advocate a boycott of Israel. Several state-level bills are also in the
works. Seems like AIPAC has a hard time with the First Amendment!

7. AIPAC feeds U.S. government officials a distorted
view of the Israel/Palestine conflict. AIPAC takes U.S. representatives on sugar-coated
trips to Israel. Every year, AIPAC takes dozens of members of Congress – and many
of their spouses – on a free junket to Israel to see precisely what the Israeli
government want them to see. It is illegal for lobby groups to take Congresspeople
on trips, but AIPAC gets around the law by creating a bogus educational group,
the American Israel Education Foundation (AIEF), to “organize” the trips for
them. AIEF has the same office address as AIPAC and the same staff. These trips
help cement the ties between AIPAC and Congress, furthering their undue influence.

8. AIPAC lobbies for billions of U.S. taxdollars
to go to Israel instead of rebuilding America or funding the truly needy. While
our country is still suffering from a prolonged financial crisis, AIPAC is pushing
for no cuts in military funds for Israel. With communities across the nation
slashing budgets for teachers, firefighters and police, AIPAC pushes for over
$3 billion a year to Israel.

Israel is the 27th
richest country in world, but thanks to AIPAC, it gets more U.S. taxdollars
than any other country. At a time when the foreign aid budget is being slashed,
keeping the lion’s share of foreign assistance for Israel means taking funds
from critical programs to feed, provide shelter and offer emergency assistance
to the world’s poorest people.

The bottom line is that AIPAC, which is a de facto agent for a foreign
government, has influence on U.S. policy out of all proportion to the number
of Americans who support its policies. When a small group like this has disproportionate
power, that hurts everyone – including Israelis and American Jews. From stopping
a catastrophic war with Iran to finally solving the Israel/Palestine conflict,
an essential starting point is breaking AIPAC’s grip on U.S. policy. Join
us by sending a message to AIPAC today.

Thanks Medea for this great article, exposing the nefarious goals of this Israeli, shameless lobby.
AIPAC has done irreparable damage to the U.S. in many ways. We have become the PARIAH of
the world, because of how they have manipulated our foreign policy . They have turned the USA
into a WARMONGERING nation and APARTHEID supporter, who disregards INTERNATIONAL
LAWS and denies HUMAN to the PALESTINIANS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

outsider

I couldn't agree more with all of Medea's 8 points. But I am increasingly concerned, given recent events, that President Obama has not given up on his "Assad must go" ultimatum, and will still invent a justification to bomb Syria. Further, I think the chances are 50/50 at best that the temporary Iranian deal will hold after the current six month period. Additionally, US bellicosity towards Russia (which, in my opinion, is completely justified in sending its troops into Eastern Ukraine) creates additional instability, and could be used as a pretext to further undermine the slight diplomatic progress vis-a-vis Syria and Iran. Everywhere I look, more US caused wars may be in the offing, with Israel leading from behind the curtain.

What particularly galls me is all the taxpayer money that is sent to Israel ("the 27th richest country") when there are so many unmet needs at home. AIPAC and the Jewish community are rich. If they want to help Israel, let them send their own money – surely they have more than enough of it. BTW, I signed the petition.

DanD

Zionland loves advertising itself as a "mad dog" perpetually on the edge of causing the entire planet to immolate itself if the hegemons of conquered Palestine are in any way thwarted from accomplishing their imperial agenda. Zionland does possess at least 200 nuclear devices. Zionland does have nuclear weapons secretly planted throughout the United States as a "Samson Option" tool of punishment should America ever "abandon" its imminent domain over the Earth.

You see, either we do what the theo-fascists of Zionland want, or we all die in a nuclear annihilation. Zionland could ignite every radiological weapon they possess RIGHT WHERE THEY ARE ~ no worry about delivery systems or such ~ and ultimately, the Earth would still become a lifeless wasteland.

How does anyone confront such insanity?

DanD

jeff_davis

"Zionland does have nuclear weapons secretly planted throughout the United States as a "Samson Option" tool of punishment should America ever "abandon" its imminent domain over the Earth."

Total whackadoodle.

Israel has nukes, yes. And yes, the "Sampson Option" exists. At least as an idea. Whether it is fact or an expression of the frothing rage of a few Zionist extremists, it's hard to tell. But there's little likelihood that the Israelis would deploy those nukes on US territory where they would be beyond Israeli control, particularly now that Israel has subs capable of launching nukes with a range to target of 1500 miles.

It's easy to see how the idea of nukes "secretly planted throughout the United States" — a elegantly scary idea, whether fact or fantasy — could gain traction among those overwrought with anger at Israeli crimes, an anger I share. But reality must intervene. In a situation where it is not even possible to prove that Israel has nukes– everyone "knows" they do, but actual proof?, that's something else — it's a bit much to assert that they have nukes secretly planted across the US.

I feel foolish asking, but, have you anything,… anything at all, to support your claim?

I included other sites and commentary earlier to your question including much information about Zionland's huge 5th column of "to-death" Sayanim in America JD, but it seems to have been "disappeared." Apparently, whoever is monitoring this site does not want the info being introduced.

It looks like you are on your own.

DanD

goldhoarder

Great article Medea. Much love and good luck in Gaza next week. Stay safe.

Israel steals land and water from the Palestinians and claims to be the world's most successful nation in desert farming. They use water from Palestinian homes to irrigate their farms and persecute israeli Arabs. Israel is not even a third world nation and receives the most military and economic aid in the world. It all comes from the USA, Canada & the EU.